Chiayi(/ˈjɑːˈ/,[3]TaigiPOJ:Ka-gī;Chinese:Gia nghĩa), officially known asChiayi City,is acitylocated inChianan Plaininsouthwestern Taiwan,surrounded byChiayi Countywith a population of 263,188 inhabitants as of January 2023.

Chiayi City
Gia nghĩa thị
Ka-gi, Kagi, Chiai, Chia-i
Chiayi City
Clockwise from top left: Hinoki Village, Chiayi Confucius Temple, Fountain at the Lantan Reservoir, Chiayi City Sports Arena, Chiayi Municipal Culture Center, Chiayi Sun Shooting Tower, National Chiayi University
Flag of Chiayi City
Official seal of Chiayi City
Nickname:
Peach City(Đào thành) orJia City(Gia thị)
Location of Chiayi City
Map
CountryRepublic of China (Taiwan)
ProvinceTaiwan Province(de facto dissolved)
RegionSouthwestern Taiwan
First mentioned1787
Renamed to Kagi17 April 1895
Autonomous city1930
Provincial city25 October 1945
Downgraded tocounty-administered city16 August 1950
Provincial city status restored1 July 1982
SeatEast District
Districts
2 districts
Government
• TypeChiayi City Government
MayorHuang Min-hui(KMT)
Area
• Total60.03 km2(23.18 sq mi)
• Rank21 out of 22
Elevation
69 m (226 ft)
Population
(January 2023)[2]
• Total263,188
• Rank18 of 22
• Density4,400/km2(11,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+8(National Standard Time)
Postal code
600
Area code05
ISO 3166 codeTW-CYI
Flower
TreeHong Kong orchid tree
Websitewww.chiayi.gov.tw/en/Edit this at Wikidata
Chiayi City
"Chiayi" inTraditional(top) andSimplified(bottom) Chinese characters
Chinese name
Traditional ChineseGia nghĩaThị
Simplified ChineseGia nghĩaThị
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinJiāyì Shì
Bopomofoㄐㄧㄚ ㄧˋ ㄕˋ
Gwoyeu RomatzyhJiayih Shyh
Wade–GilesChia1-i4Shih4
Tongyong PinyinJiayì Shìh
Yale RomanizationJyāyì Shr̀
MPS2Jiāyì Shr̀
IPA[tɕjá.î ʂɻ̩̂]
Hakka
Pha̍k-fa-sṳKâ-ngi-sṳ
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationGāyih Síh
Jyutpinggaa1 ji6 si5
IPA[ka˥ ji˨ si˩˧]
Southern Min
HokkienPOJKa-gī-chhī
Tâi-lôKa-gī-tshī
Japanese name
KanjiGia nghĩa thị
Hiraganaかぎし
Katakanaカギシ
Transcriptions
Revised HepburnKagi-shi
Kunrei-shikiKagi-si

TheHoanya peopleinhabited present-day Chiayi under its historical name ofTirosenprior to the arrival ofHan Chinesein Taiwan and was ruled by theDutchand theKingdom of Tungningunder various names. During theQing dynasty,Tirosen was governed as part ofTaiwan PrefectureinFujianunderZhuluo Countyand the city was renamedKageein 1787. The city was renamedKagiduring theJapanese erabut anearthquake in 1906destroyed much of the town. Kagi was administered as part ofTainan Prefecturefrom 1920 onwards. Following thesurrender of Japanin 1945, theRepublic of China,whodeposed the Qing in 1911,took control of the city (renamed Chiayi City) and administered it as a provincial city ofTaiwan Provincebefore being integrated into Chiayi County in 1950 as acounty-administered city.The city was restored to its status as a provincial city in 1982. In 1998, Taiwan Province was streamlined and Chiayi City has been governed directly since then by theExecutive Yuan.

The city is known forAlishan National Scenic Areaand warmhumid subtropical climatein the summer months. Left with the landmarks of Japanese colonial rule, Chiayi City has the round-island railway system andAlishan Forest Railwaywhere the city is the starting point along with various Japanese temples.

Name

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Like the county, Chiayi City's former Chinese placename was Tsu-lo-san[4](Chinese:Chư la sơn;pinyin:Zhūluóshān;Pe̍h-ōe-jī:Chu-lô-san), a representation of the originalFormosan-languagenameTirosen.A shortened version, Tsulo, was then used to nameTsulo County,which originally covered the underdeveloped northern two-thirds of the island. In 1704, the county seat was moved to Tsulosan, the site of modern-dayChiayi City.Following the 1723Zhu Yiguirebellion, the county was reduced in size. In 1787, the county and city were renamedChiayi(Gia nghĩa;lit.'commended righteousness') by theQianlong Emperorto acknowledge the citizens' loyalty during theLin Shuangwen rebellion.[5]

History

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Early history

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First inhabited by theHoanyaaborigines,the region was namedTirosen(variantsTirocen,Tiracen). With the arrival ofHan Chineseimmigrants in southwestern Taiwan, the name evolved to becomeTsulosan(Chinese:Chư la sơn;pinyin:Zhūluóshān;Pe̍h-ōe-jī:Chu-lô-san) inHokkien.Eventually, Tsulosan was shortened to simply Tsulo. Because of the choice of the characters, it has been mistakenly suggested that the origin of the name came from the expression "mountains surrounding the east". "Peach City" is another name for Chiayi City due to its peach-shaped territory in ancient times. The tip of the peach is around Central Fountain and was called "Peach-tip" by citizens.

Tsulosan was once the foothold to which people from the mainland immigrated. In 1621,Chinese Peter[zh],who came fromZhangzhou,FujianProvince, first led his people to cultivate this land after they landed atPonkan(modern-dayBeigang).

Dutch Formosa

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Records from theDutch era,beginning in 1624, show Tirosen as the usual form of the name; it also occurred asTirassen,Tirozen,Tilocen,Tilossen,Tilocen,andThilocen.[6]The place was north of Mattau (modern-dayMadou, Tainan) and south of Favorlang (Huwei, Yunlin).

Kingdom of Tungning

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In 1661 (the 15th year ofYung-Li,Ming dynasty),Koxingadefeated the Dutch based in Taiwan and founded theKingdom of Tungning.He established one province,Cheng-Tien-Fu[zh],and two counties,Tien-Hsing[zh]andWan-Nien[zh],demarcated by the Hsin-Kang River (Chinese:Tân cảng khê,now theYanshui River). Chiayi was under the jurisdiction of the Tien-Hsing County.

Qing dynasty

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In 1683, when Qing rule began, the island was governed asTaiwan Prefectureunder the administration ofFujian Province.In 1684,Tsulo Countywas established and initially encompassed the underdeveloped northern two-thirds of Taiwan. (Taiwan and Hongsoa counties were divided from Wan-Nien County during theKingdom of Tungning,which was changed from Tien-Hsing County.) In 1704, the county seat was moved to Tsulosan, the site of modern-day Chiayi City, and had wooden city walls.

In 1727, the county magistrate, Liu Liang-Bi rebuilt the gatehouses and set a gun platform for each gatehouse. The four gatehouses were named: "Chin Shan" (Khâm sơn) for East, "Tai Hai" (Đái hải) for West, "Chung Yang" (Sùng dương) for South, and "Kung Chen" (Củng thần) for North. In 1734 (the 12th year of Yongzheng), magistrate Lu-Hung built piercing-bamboo to better protect the city.

In 1786, theLin Shuangwen rebellionwas an attempt to siege Tsulosan but failed to overcome the defense of the inhabitants. Consequently, on November 3 of the next year, the Qing Emperor conferred the nameKagee(Gia nghĩa;lit.'commended righteousness') to praise the citizens' loyalty.

In the mid-1800s, a custom of annual riotous massstoningdeveloped in the city.[7][better source needed]

In 1887, a separateTaiwan Provincewas declared and the island was administratively divided into four prefectures; the city of Kagee belonged toTainan Prefecture.

Japanese rule

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Chiayi City under Japanese rule

In 1895, Taiwan was ceded toJapanin theTreaty of Shimonoseki.The1906 Meishan earthquakedevastated the entire city wall except the Eastern Gate. The Japanese authorities reconstructed the city. Industries and trades started to flourish. According to the census taken in 1904, Kagi was the fourth most populous city in Taiwan, with a population of over twenty thousand.[8]

TheGreat Kagi earthquake(later also known as the 1906 Meishan earthquake) struck the city in mid March 1906.[9]

In looking over some of my more recent Notes, it seems impossible to make the foregoing references to Ka-gi without adding a few words about that dreadful earthquake which devastated the region in March 1906. I was there soon after, and had a profound feeling of sadness on seeing whole streets covered with fallen beams and otherdebris;on seeing, too, so many traces of the awful suffering on every side. Within Ka-gi city, and a limited area around, 1,216 persons were suddenly thrust out into the eternal world. Not fewer than 2,306 persons were seriously injured, and 13,259 houses were laid low. The great mysterious Power then tore the earth into deep, open chasms in several places. Many of the narrow escapes and calamities were very affecting; particularly that of our blind evangelist Toa-un, who ran out of doors with his wife as the shaking began. The demented mother, however, could not bear the thought of her two helpless young children being left behind, and she darted in to rescue them, when my poor blind pupil became childless and a widower in an instant of time. No sooner had theGovernor-GeneralatTai-pakreceived telegraphic information of the magnitude of the calamity, than instructions were issued for a large company of surgeons, nurses, and assistants to proceed at once to Ka-gi. Wide hospital-sheds were erected without delay, and the work of relief was carried on with a rare amount of self-denial and promptitude. Even already, the city has lost much of its most desolate appearance, and the projected improvements give promise that it will have a more attractive look than ever. –William Campbell,1915

In 1907, the construction ofAlishan Forest RailwaytoMount Aliwas begun. In 1920, the city became an autonomous group asKagi Town(Gia nghĩa nhai),Kagi District, withinTainan Prefecture,which included modern-dayTainan City,Chiayi CountyandYunlin County.In 1930, the town was upgraded to an autonomous city under the same prefecture.

Republic of China

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ChiayiCityin 1946–1950

After thehandover of Taiwan from Japanto theRepublic of Chinain October 1945,Chiayi Citywas established as aprovincial cityofTaiwan Province.The city consisted of 8 districts, which were Bajiang, Beimen, Beizhen, Nanmen, Tungmen,Tungshan,Ximen and ZhuweiDistricts.In 1946, the districts was reorganized to 6 districts in which Bajiang and Nanmen were merged to become Xinnan, Beimen and Beizhen were merged to become Xinbei, Tungmen and Tungshan were merged to become Xindong, Ximen and Zhuwei were merged to become Xinxi District and there were 2 addition of districts fromTainan Countywhich wereShuishangandTaibao Districts.[10]

Chiayi saw some of the most violent events during the228 Incident.In early March, local militas surrounded theShueishang Airportand fought against theKMTmilitary.[11]There were over 300 casualties.[12]On 12 March 1947, negotiators for peace, includingTan Teng-phoandPhuan Bok-tsi[zh],were arrested after arriving at the airport and were executed on 25 March. The Kuomintang also executed many civilians in Chiayi.[13]

On 16 August 1950, because of the re-allocation of administrative areas in which Taiwan was divided into 16 counties, five provincial cities and a special bureau, Chiayi City was downgraded to acounty-administered cityand merged withChiayi Countyto be thecounty seat.As a result, a shortage of capital hindered its development.

On 1 July 1982, Chiayi City was elevated again to aprovincial cityas a result of pressure from local elites.[14]On 6 October 1990, theEast DistrictandWest Districtwere established.[15]

Geography

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Map of Chiayi (labeled as KAGI) and surrounding area (1944)
Map of the region including Chiayi (labeled as CHIA-I SHIH (KAGI)Gia nghĩa thị) (1950)
Map of the city of Chiayi (labeled as CHIA-I SHIH (KAGI)Gia nghĩa thị) (1950s)

Chiayi City is located on the north side ofChianan Plain,south west of Taiwan Island. On the east side is theMount Ali,on the west side is theChiayi Airport,on the north side is thePuzi Riverand on the south side is theBazhang River.The distance from east to west of Chiayi City is 15.8 km (9.8 mi) and from north to south is 10.5 km (6.5 mi) with a total area of 60.0256 km2(23.1760 sq mi). Chiayi City is completely surrounded byChiayi County.Most of Chiayi City land is broad flat fertile plains. The terrain slowly rises from west to east. Chiayi is also one of the closest Taiwanese cities to theTropic of Cancer,with the latitudinal line lying just south of the city.

Climate

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Chiayi City has a warmhumid subtropical climate(KöppenCwa) that closely borders a truetropical climate.Northeasterly winds during fall and winter mean that rainfall is depressed during that time, while southwesterly winds during summer and the later portion of spring bring most of the year's rainfall, with more than 60% falling from June to August. Humidity is high year-round, even during winter.

Climate data for Chiayi (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1968–present )
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 31.7
(89.1)
33.0
(91.4)
34.1
(93.4)
34.2
(93.6)
37.2
(99.0)
37.0
(98.6)
37.2
(99.0)
36.6
(97.9)
36.7
(98.1)
36.5
(97.7)
33.6
(92.5)
32.5
(90.5)
37.2
(99.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 22.5
(72.5)
23.0
(73.4)
25.4
(77.7)
28.4
(83.1)
30.9
(87.6)
32.8
(91.0)
33.4
(92.1)
32.8
(91.0)
32.1
(89.8)
30.1
(86.2)
27.6
(81.7)
23.9
(75.0)
28.6
(83.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 16.8
(62.2)
17.7
(63.9)
20.2
(68.4)
23.5
(74.3)
26.3
(79.3)
28.3
(82.9)
28.9
(84.0)
28.4
(83.1)
27.4
(81.3)
24.9
(76.8)
22.0
(71.6)
18.4
(65.1)
23.6
(74.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 12.9
(55.2)
14.1
(57.4)
16.2
(61.2)
19.5
(67.1)
22.6
(72.7)
24.7
(76.5)
25.4
(77.7)
25.2
(77.4)
24.0
(75.2)
21.1
(70.0)
18.0
(64.4)
14.2
(57.6)
19.8
(67.6)
Record low °C (°F) 1.8
(35.2)
2.6
(36.7)
2.7
(36.9)
8.2
(46.8)
13.9
(57.0)
17.5
(63.5)
21.7
(71.1)
19.7
(67.5)
17.6
(63.7)
11.5
(52.7)
6.7
(44.1)
0.4
(32.7)
0.4
(32.7)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) 27.5
(1.08)
44.9
(1.77)
53.0
(2.09)
86.6
(3.41)
170.0
(6.69)
318.6
(12.54)
387.4
(15.25)
443.8
(17.47)
212.3
(8.36)
30.2
(1.19)
21.5
(0.85)
25.8
(1.02)
1,821.6
(71.72)
Average precipitation days(≥ 0.1 mm) 5.1 5.5 6.8 8.1 10.4 13.8 15.3 17.9 9.4 2.9 3.3 4.1 102.6
Averagerelative humidity(%) 77.9 79.3 79.3 79.8 79.9 77.5 77.2 80.1 80.1 78.9 78.7 76.8 78.8
Mean monthlysunshine hours 161.4 139.7 157.9 157.0 175.5 186.6 206.4 182.2 186.2 197.0 158.9 159.2 2,068
Source: Central Weather Bureau[16][17][18][19][20]

Government

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Huang Min-hui,the incumbentMayorof Chiayi City.
Chiayi City Government

Chiayi City is aprovincial cityofTaiwan Provinceof theRepublic of China.The city is governed by theChiayi City Government,while the residence is represented in theChiayi City Council.The currentMayorof Chiayi City isHuang Min-huiof theKuomintang.

Administrative divisions

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Chiayi City is divided into twodistricts.East Districtis the city seat which houses theChiayi City Government.

Map Name Chinese Taiwanese Hakka Population (2016) Area (km2)
East Đông khu Tang Tûng 122,877 29.1195
West Tây khu Se 147,396 30.9061

Politics

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Result of the2022 mayoral electionof Chiayi City

Chiayi City voted oneDemocratic Progressive Partylegislator to be in theLegislative Yuanduring the2020 Taiwanese legislative election.It has historically been a verypan-Greencity. During the martial law era, most people of Chiayi supportedtangwaipoliticians. However, the voting gap between the DPP and the KMT has narrowed in recent years.[21]And in2022 Taiwanese local elections,Chiayi City re-electedHuang Min-huiofKuomintangto be themayor.

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
1985253,573
1990257,597+1.6%
1995261,391+1.5%
2000266,183+1.8%
2005272,364+2.3%
2010272,390+0.0%
2015270,366−0.7%
2020266,005−1.6%
Source:"Populations by City and Country in Taiwan"(in Chinese).Ministry of the InteriorPopulation Census.

Education

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National Chiayi University

Energy

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Green energy

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On 17 December 2015,Chiayi City Governmentlaunched a program to set up solar panels at schools and offices in the city to reduce green house gases. The program is expected to produce 3.55 million kWh of electricity annually and to help reducing carbon emission by 1,700 tonnes.[22]

Tourist attractions

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Chiayi Prison Museum
The spotted deer sculpture in the 228 National Memorial Park.
Hinoki Village

Chiayi is the city of wind music in Taiwan. The wind music festival started as a local event in 1988, when it was more like a joint performance by local wind music bands. Over the years the festival has become the most anticipated annual event in Chiayi.[24]

Sports

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Major sporting events held by Chiayi include:

Notable residents/natives

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  • Tan Ting-pho(1895–1947), Taiwan famous painter.
  • Sow-Hsin Chen(1935–2021), American physicist, Professor.
  • Vincent Siew(1939), Taiwanese politician, Vice President of the Republic of China (2008–2012), Vice-Chairman of the Kuomintang.
  • Huang Min-hui(1959), former mayor of Chiayi City, vice chairperson of Kuomintang, a member of the Legislative Yuan (1999 and 2005).
  • Lo Chen-Jung(1961), Taiwanese left-handed baseball pitcher.
  • Wu Bai(1968), Taiwanese rock singer.

International relations

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Twin towns — sister cities

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Chiayi istwinnedwith:

Transportation

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Chiayi Station

Rail

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Chiayi City is served byChiayi StationandJiabei Stationof theTaiwan Railways Administration.Chiayi Station is the starting point for theAlishan Forest Railway.The city is also accessible fromTHSR Chiayi StationinChiayi County.

Chiayi Bus Rapid Transitconnects Chiayi City toChiayi HSR stationin the neighboringTaibao City.Chiayi City Busserves the urban areas of Chiayi City.

Chiayi City is served byChiayi Airportin the neighboringShuishang Township.

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Chiayi City and its street foods, including the famousChiayi turkey rice,were featured on theNetflix TV series,Street Food,in season 1.[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Xiàn shì zhòngyào tǒngjì zhǐbiāo cháxún xìtǒng wǎng"Huyện thị trọng yếu thống kế chỉ tiêu tra tuân hệ thống võng.Zhōnghuá mínguó tǒngjì zīxùn wǎngTrung hoa dân quốc thống kế tư tấn võng(in Chinese). Archived fromthe originalon 12 June 2016.Retrieved1 July2016.
  2. ^Minzheng chu (2016-07-01)."Jiāyì Shì 105 nián 6 yuèfèn rénkǒu tǒngjì zīliào"Gia nghĩa thị 105 niên 6 nguyệt phân nhân khẩu thống kế tư liêu[Population Statistics of Chiayi City for June 2016].Jiāyì Shì zhèngfǔGia nghĩa thị chính phủ(in Chinese). Archived fromthe originalon 16 September 2016.Retrieved1 July2016.
  3. ^"Chia-i".Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary.Merriam-Webster.
  4. ^Campbell, William(1903)."Explanatory Notes".Formosa under the Dutch: described from contemporary records, with explanatory notes and a bibliography of the island.London: Kegan Paul. p. 549.ISBN9789576380839.OCLC644323041.
  5. ^"Taiwan in Time: Rebels of heaven and earth - Taipei Times".17 April 2016.
  6. ^Campbell, M. W.(1903)."Explanatory Notes".Formosa Under the Dutch: Described from Contemporary Records, with Explanatory Notes and a Bibliography of the Island.London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co. p. 549.ISBN9789576380839.OCLC644323041.
  7. ^Campbell, W. (1915).Sketches from Formosa.London: Marshall Brothers. pp. 79–81.It was on a later occasion I arrived in Ka-gi to find the people engaged in their absurd periodic custom of stonethrowing.
  8. ^Takekoshi, Yosaburō(1907). "Chapter XIII: Population and Future Development of the Island Resources".Japanese Rule in Formosa.Translated by Braithwaite, George. London: Longmans, Green, and Co. p.200.OCLC753129.OL6986981M.
  9. ^Campbell, W. (1915).Sketches from Formosa.London: Marshall Brothers. pp. 82–83.
  10. ^"Đài loan kiến chế thị đích thị hạt khu biến thiên".www.aiplus.idv.tw.Retrieved2022-03-20.
  11. ^Nhị nhị bát dân biến - đài loan dữ tưởng giới thạch, 143-146; 1947 đài loan nhị nhị bát cách mệnh, 166-185; trách nhậm quy chúc nghiên cứu báo cáo, 61-63
  12. ^Storm.mg (2019-02-26)."“Yếu sát quang gia nghĩa thị dân!” Tinh anh tao du nhai thương quyết, dân chúng bị tảo xạ… Nhị nhị bát “Dân chủ thánh địa” đĩnh thân kháng bạo tối thảm liệt - phong truyện môi ".www.storm.mg(in Chinese (Taiwan)).Retrieved2022-03-20.
  13. ^"The 228 Massacre in Chiayi:" The Airport and Train Station Were Washed with Blood "".The Taiwan Gazette.Retrieved2022-03-20.
  14. ^"Rezoning Taiwan".Taiwan Today.1 February 2011.Retrieved9 December2020.
  15. ^"History".East District Office, Chiayi City.Archived fromthe originalon 2017-03-14.Retrieved2016-01-06.
  16. ^"Monthly Mean".Central Weather Bureau.Retrieved29 November2022.
  17. ^"Khí tượng trạm các nguyệt phân tối cao khí ôn thống kế"(PDF)(in Chinese). Central Weather Bureau.Retrieved29 November2022.
  18. ^"Khí tượng trạm các nguyệt phân tối cao khí ôn thống kế ( tục )"(PDF)(in Chinese). Central Weather Bureau.Retrieved29 November2022.
  19. ^"Khí tượng trạm các nguyệt phân tối đê khí ôn thống kế"(PDF)(in Chinese). Central Weather Bureau.Retrieved29 November2022.
  20. ^"Khí tượng trạm các nguyệt phân tối đê khí ôn thống kế ( tục )"(PDF)(in Chinese). Central Weather Bureau.Retrieved29 November2022.
  21. ^"Đại tuyển quan kiện khu 》 gia nghĩa thị lam lục giai phối giác, phái hệ dã thức vi, thùy trảo đắc trụ dân chủ thánh địa? | thiên hạ tạp chí".Thiên hạ tạp chí(in Chinese).Retrieved2022-03-20.
  22. ^Chiang, Chun-liang; Hou, Elaine (2015-12-17)."Chiayi City Launches Solar Power System Program".Focus Taiwan News Channel.Central News Agency. Archived fromthe originalon 2015-12-18.Retrieved2015-12-18.
  23. ^"Chung Cheng Park".Travel in Chiayi.Archived fromthe originalon 2015-06-10.Retrieved2013-11-16.
  24. ^"The Sound of Wind Music: 2008 Chiayi City International Band Festival".Culture.tw.2009-01-17. Archived fromthe originalon 2009-02-03.Retrieved2009-02-06.
  25. ^Brown, Joshua Samuel (22 May 2019)."Taiwan Culture and Cuisine Shine on New Netflix Series" Street Food "".CommonWealth Magazine.Medium.Retrieved26 July2020.
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23°28′48″N120°26′59″E/ 23.48000°N 120.44972°E/23.48000; 120.44972